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This Popular Moisturizer Applied to Mice for 17 Weeks Got 69% More Tumors

According to a recent study topical application of creams and moisturizers like Eucerin, Dermabase, Vanicream or Dermovan can significantly increase the risk of cancer, at least in mice, which would lead the scientists to conclude the same would be applicable in humans as well.

The study was conducted on irradiated mice who received treatment with these moisturizers and revealed that after the treatment the mice had an increase in their tumor formation rate. The mice were treated with moisturizers including Eucerin, Dermovan, Vanicream and Dermabase for 17 weeks, after which their tumors number increased by 69%. Further studies are needed to conclude if the same results would be attained in humans, but there’s plenty of reason to believe that it’s probably going to have the same effect.

But it’s not just the moisturizers that have this effect, the same goes for lotions and tanning oils, which are commonly used by millions of people across the globe. All of these products contain mineral oil, which many believe is safe for humans, but are actually wrong.

Mineral oil is a derivative of petroleum, you know the thing you put in your car engine. Why is this stuff added to creams and lotions? Well because it’s highly viscous and makes the lotion easily spreadable on the human skin. And even though the companies are aware of its carcinogenic properties, they still add it to their products.

Mineral oils can also block your pores and inhibit the natural respiration processes in the skin, which can lead to pimples and blackheads and all sorts of other skin issues. Moreover, they coat your skin with an impenetrable layer which blocks any other beneficial nutrients from penetrating it.

Moisturizing Creams That Contain Mineral Oils Can Be Tumorigenic

The study we mentioned above was published in the Investigative Dermatology Journal and it revealed that many of the moisturizers we commonly use have mineral oils in their ingredient list and can have tumorigenic properties when they were topically applied on the irradiated mice. They actually increased the rate of formation of the tumors by a staggering 69%. The following 4 lotions were tested in the study:

Dermovan

Dermabase

Eucerin Moisturizing Cream

Vanicream

The common thing about all of these 4 moisturizers is the mineral oil they contain. They were applied on the mice with a high risk of skin cancer in doses of 100mg of the moisturizers a day, 5 days per week for the duration of 17 weeks. The study authors were able to conclude that the tumor formation rate was significantly increased, in addition to the increase of the size of the tumors per mice.

Steer Clear of Tanning Oils and Lotions with Mineral Oil

The study revealed that mineral oil has a dangerous effect on skin exposed to UVB rays, so it’s reasonable to assume that this ingredient shouldn’t be in your tanning oil or sunscreen. Unfortunately, the majority of tanning products actually contain mineral oils, even the ones that don’t list it in the ingredients list add it to their products. Mineral oils can be known under a variety of names, but they all have the same effect on your skin.

Below is the list of names they give to mineral oils to make them undetectable:

Albolene

Adepsine oil

Paraffin oil or liquid paraffin

Drakeol

Baby oil

White oil

Petrolatum

Mineral seal oil

Petrolatum

Lignite oil

Mothers Be Careful with the Baby Products You Use

Breastfeeding mothers often use creams and lotions to moisturize the skin on their breasts, without thinking twice about the stuff that goes in those creams. According to studies, these mineral oil paraffins can accumulate in the breast milk and fat tissue in the breasts and then be transferred to the baby you’re feeding. The study further goes to say that 1% of the accumulated mineral oils can be transferred to your baby, either via the milk or the skin when the baby is feeding, even though it’s possible that the amount is much larger than 1%.

This is a valid concern, especially having in mind that mineral oils have been connected to the onset of 23 different health problems and diseases, including some autoimmune disorders and different types of cancer.

That’s why we urge all mothers to avoid using lotions and moisturizers with mineral oils, especially Vaseline on their breasts during the breastfeeding period at least. Also, don’t use baby oil on your little one because most of them also contain mineral oils.

Toxic Skin Care Products Can Have a Worse Effect than Toxic Food

We all know that our skin is our largest organ, the thinnest one as well. There’s just a tenth of an inch between the all the potential toxins and our internal organs. Moreover, the skin absorbs everything, so everything you rub on it will most likely end up in your blood stream and reach every organ in your body. This means that you shouldn’t put anything on it that you wouldn’t like inside your body. And I’m sure petroleum isn’t something you’d like having in your system.

As a matter of fact, it’s actually worse to apply chemicals on your skin than eat them. Everything you ingest goes through a number of processes, get broken down and most of it is flushed out of your body. But when you apply toxins on your skin there’s no process in between, it gets absorbed and ends up in your blood, being transferred all over the body. Once they’re inside your body they start accumulating as there’s no mechanism to break them down, so they just build up, day after day, until they finally start wreaking havoc on your organs.

What’s the alternative?

The majority of the skin care products available on the market, even the more expensive ones, are loaded with toxic ingredients, mineral oil is just one of the many that can have a detrimental effect on your health. You shouldn’t apply these on your skin under any circumstances, especially since they’re many safer alternatives. You could always try and make your own natural skin care products, with reliable ingredients and completely toxins-free. There are many recipes available online and they’re super easy to make.

You can also use coconut oil or emu oil, both excellent natural moisturizers. You can use them for your face and body and they’ll have an excellent effect on your skin.

There are also many organic skin care products available on the market as well so you can choose which one suits your needs the best. Make sure you read their labels carefully and don’t get fooled by misconceptions. When searching for organic products here are some basics rules you should follow:

Buy products with a genuine Organic Seal by USDA.

Fragrance free products are the best option, as artificial fragrances are loaded with chemicals and can lead to allergies.

The ingredient list can reveal a lot, as manufacturers have to list the ingredients according to the volume, starting with the most prominent. So is Aloe Vera is among the last ingredients on the list, the Aloe Vera lotion you’re eyeing is not so ‘natural’.